The Anasazi occupied this site at various times from the 900’s into the
1100’s. They left behind some unusual and puzzling architectural
features....
• STOP #10
The sides and floor of this pit were fire-reddened, and archeologists
believe it was used as an oven. Food probably was placed on a bed of hot
stones, covered with earth, and allowed to bake for several hours.
• STOP #11
This small underground room was among the last structures built on this
site. Archeologists do not know its purpose, but it resembles a
miniature kiva.
The last building on this site was a small pueblo. From the time the
Anasazi began to live in above-ground dwellings, their villages usually
included open courtyards or plazas. The kivas were located in this area.
Modern Pueblo Indians use the plaza as a work area, a place to
socialize, and a stage for the dances that are often a part of religious
ceremonies.
[Illustration: The palisade was built of upright poles, with
branches probably woven between them.]
• STOP #12
A palisade, or fence of posts and brush, partially enclosed the plaza of
Two Raven House. Archeologists speculate that such structures may have
been windbreaks to shelter the plaza or even barriers to keep Anasazi
turkeys in (or out) of the village. Although palisades have been
discovered at only a few other sites in the Southwest, they may have
been common features of Anasazi villages. Archeologists seldom have the
time (or money) to spend stripping away the topsoil in search of the
telltale rows of postholes.
• STOP #13
Between 1280 and 1300, the Anasazi left Mesa Verde and moved south. Some
of the people may have joined the Hopi in northern Arizona, but most
probably settled among the Pueblos in the Rio Grande Valley of New
Mexico. Archeologists are still not certain why the Anasazi abandoned
much of their homeland at this time.
Drought conditions, which began around 1276 and persisted for nearly a
generation, may have been partly to blame. Yet, the Anasazi had survived
several previous droughts. By 1280, however, the people may have been
facing other serious problems in their environment, including exhausted
soil and erosion.
_Even after a century of research, mysteries remain...._
• STOP #14
These stones are the remains of toppled walls. They were removed from in
and around the rooms during excavation.
A key ingredient in making a house into a ruin is neglect. Nature does
the rest. Walls and roofs of abandoned houses sag and fall. Soil, moved
by water and wind, builds up against the foundations. Plants with
shallow roots sprout, anchoring the soil, which eventually becomes deep
enough to support brush cover. Given time, the result is a mound—one
littered with lichen-covered stones, pot sherds, flakes of stone and
mortar, but otherwise nearly blending into the landscape. You may have
wondered how archeologists estimate the height of walls when so few are
left standing. The answer lies here. They collect the debris and measure
the pile.
[Illustration: {Pitcher}]
Wetherill Mesa
Planning Information Sheet
The following information will help you plan your visit to Wetherill
Mesa. The road to Wetherill is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The
12-mile, 30/45 minute drive offers a number of excellent views of the
Park and Four Corners.
NOTE: Vehicles in excess of 8,000 G.V.W. and/or 25 feet in length are
prohibited.